Pakistan
seems to have recovered from it difficult past and poised to
build on the current gains. Investment is one of the most
determinants of long-term economic growth. However, the
quantum of fresh investment has remained low. Macroeconomic
stability alone cannot convince investors to make long-term
commitments. The overall consensus is that the GoP must come
up with sector-specific policies and remove the existing
irritants.

PERISHABLE
ITEMSPakistan
produced over 650,000 tons of potatoes
during the current season but could not
export due to heavy freight charges. The
growers had stored over 100,000 tons of
potatoes in the hope to get freight
subsidy, but the ministry of commerce
denied. Last year Pakistan had exported
some 125,000 tons of potatoes to Sri
Lanka, Dubai, Jordan, Muscat, Singapore
and Malaysia... Due heavy freight charges,
the price of Pakistani potatoes comes to
around $106 per ton in Colombo as compared
to 95 dollars offered by Indian exporters.

A

SHIPBREAKINGThe
arrival of Sea Giant, a 1979-built
supertanker, at Gadani last week has
given the Pakistani ship-breaking
industry the much needed
shot-in-the-arm. The Sea Giant was
the biggest ship in the world when
it was built in France 24 years ago
and was still the second biggest
vessel at the time of its arrival at
Gadani. It has a Dead Weight Tonnage
of just over 555,000 tons and LDT of
74,000 tons. It is the biggest ship
ever to be scrapped at Gadani and
the sense of jubilation in the
ship-breaking circles is all too
pervading.